Sixers Outlast Lakers, End Road Losing Streak

Thaddeus Young, PF Shot Chart42 MIN | 10-21 FG | 5-6 FT | 9 REB | 3 AST | 3 STL | 1 BLK | 1 TO | 25 PTS | +1Young followed up back-to-back 30 point games with a 25 point effort tonight. Young strained his hamstring mid-way through the 4th, but continued to battle and earned a huge And-1 with less than a minute to play. Huge effort tonight.

Evan Turner, SF Shot Chart42 MIN | 9-19 FG | 4-6 FT | 7 REB | 6 AST | 0 STL | 1 BLK | 2 TO | 22 PTS | +5Turner played solidly on the offensive end and on the glass. Yes, the Lakers had open men around the perimeter all night long, but E.T. at least managed to grab seven boards. And ended the game with an emphatic jam.

Hollis Thompson, SF Shot Chart16 MIN | 1-4 FG | 1-2 FT | 3 REB | 0 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 3 PTS | +3He starts, but I just don’t see any improvement in Thompson’s game. With James Anderson’s shot off the mark right now, Thompson will continue to get the starting nod. Still, he needs to find a niche on this team that is in desperate need of production from the shooting guard position.

Michael Carter-Williams, PG Shot Chart30 MIN | 4-7 FG | 5-5 FT | 5 REB | 5 AST | 4 STL | 0 BLK | 2 TO | 13 PTS | +4It may not look like it all the time, but MCW brings a sense of calm on the floor. Tonight, MCW played floor general, taking only seven shots but adding five assists and four steals. He tweaked his ankle at the end of the first half. Something to keep an eye on moving forward.

Quote of the Game: “If you can make it through the night, there is a brighter day.”- Tupac Shakur

By the Numbers: 20. The Sixers defense forced 20 Lakers turnovers.

Parting Shots: The Streak ends! The Sixers ended their 13 game road losing streak behind a solid defensive effort. It’s rare that we can say Philly had more talent on the court in crunch time, but against a Lakers team ravaged by injuries, the Sixers looked like the veteran team and closed out the game in the final minutes.

The Sixers came out flat in the first, but battled back and took control of the game in the third quarter behind Spencer Hawes and Thaddeus Young. Judging by the last three games, it looks as though Thaddeus Young is ready to take on the leadership role. It’s great to see Thad take on those responsibilities. This Sixers squad needs veteran leadership. Thad is the player to fit that role.

Ken Faried, with the highest LW score on the Denver team, for whatever reason logged just 13 minutes in the most recent Denver game.

hk99

Turner’s game-ending dunk was awesome, but I must say as a long time NBA watcher that it was disturbing to see Turner feel the need to apologize to the Lakers for the dunk and it was worse to see the LA players seem to shun his efforts to apologize. What’s better for the fans to see, a player with a 5 point lead dribble out the end of the game or throw down a 360 dunk?

robbybonfire23

A professional athlete apologizing for doing his job? Can Turner just audition for a role in a “Swan Lake” ballet production? Man, what a snow cone in a blast furnace, he is.